Two Olympic medalists, a World Series champion, national award winners, record-setting scorers and outstanding coaches and administrators make up the diverse class of 11 to be inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The VSHOF made the announcement Monday, September 9, 2013 at historic Centennial Field. In addition two special annual inductees starting this year were unveiled, one a historic inductee and the other in memory of the Hall’s first chair of the board of directors, David Hakins.

The historical inductee honors someone from Vermont who makes his or her mark in sports outside the Green Mountain State. Not limited to a pioneer from the past, it also acknowledges a one-time Vermonter's prominent contribution in sports at the regional, national or international level. The first honoree is Newport-native Adams, a businessman who went on to found the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League in 1924.

The David Hakins Memorial Award will honor a business leader or an organization for exceptional promotion and development of sports, athletics and recreation in the state of Vermont. It is named in memory of the late David Hakins, a businessman who was a founding member of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame and the inspirational first president of its board of directors. This year’s inductee will be announced at a future date and will be the 11th member of the 2013 induction class.

The second annual Vermont Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Celebration will be held on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Burlington. Ticket information will be available soon on www.vermontsportshall.com

Edward F. “Ed” Kehoe, contributor-outdoors: The native of Rutland County served 17 years as the commissioner of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. His leadership directed the agency through changing times, including the transformation from primarily a law enforcement and fish-stocking agency into a modern, science-driven fish and wildlife management agency. Among the new or revamped programs Kehoe spearheaded were: starting conservation camps for young Vermonters; introducing the mandatory Hunter Education Program; overseeing reintroduction of wild turkeys, perhaps Vermont’s greatest wildlife success story; starting the Lake Champlain trout and salmon restoration programs; and pioneering fish habitat improvements

Source: Department of Fish and Wildlife
Last Updated at: September 10, 2013 08:17:20